Rich Breen: Crafting Soundscapes with Sonnox Plug-ins
Rich Breen is a Grammy Award-winning engineer and mixer with over 30 years of experience, working with top-tier names in music and film. From legendary artists like Seth MacFarlane, The Yellowjackets, and Herbie Hancock to large orchestral sessions and IMAX film scores, Breen’s versatility and skill have positioned him among the best in the industry. We caught up with Breen at his home studio, Dogmatic Sound in Burbank, California, to delve into his career journey and discover how Sonnox plug-ins play a pivotal role in his projects.
Finding a Passion for Audio Engineering
Breen's journey into the world of audio engineering began early, combining his love for jazz piano with a fascination for recording equipment. "I was a musician from early on—a jazz piano player. I always fooled around with tape recorders and gear. As soon as I found out that this job existed, I wanted in," Breen recalls. After studying Electrical Engineering and Music in college, he landed a job at Universal in Chicago, where he spent nearly a decade honing his craft. Today, Breen is well-known for his work in jazz records, film scoring, and beyond.
The Studio Setup: A Blend of Old and New
Breen operates out of his MacPro, running Pro Tools 11 HDX with a C24 controller. While his setup includes some hardware pieces like a GML EQ and a TC System 6000, Breen primarily mixes in-the-box. "For what I do, working inside Pro Tools makes a lot of sense. I don’t miss the big consoles," he says.
A Longtime User of Sonnox Plug-ins
Breen’s journey with Sonnox began early on, drawn to their reputation for high-quality audio tools, starting with the Oxford EQ. "I got the Oxford EQ right away when it came out with the GML Option because I dearly loved my GML-8200 EQ. It was awesome," Breen notes. Over time, his collection has expanded to include the Oxford Dynamics, SuprEsser, and the Fraunhofer Pro-Codec, among others.
Why Oxford EQ Stands Out
The Oxford EQ remains one of Breen’s go-to tools. "The Oxford EQ is one of my ‘go-to’ EQ’s because it does everything I want it to," he explains. Breen particularly appreciates the flexible high and low pass filters and the GML curves that feel natural to him. "I turn it on, it does what I want, and I can get on with my business."
The Oxford EQ is one of my ‘go-to’ EQ’s because it does everything I want it to
Breen also emphasizes the importance of reliability and future-proofing in his tools. "A major thing is that you really need to know that your session is going to open up a couple years down the road. If I need to open up stuff from 5 years ago, I have to be sure that it’s all going to come back. Plus, I’ve got to have confidence that the company’s done their due diligence as far as development goes; I know Sonnox will be there."
Dynamic Control with Oxford Dynamics
Breen frequently uses the Oxford Dynamics for its flexibility and sound quality. "The compressor just sounds good to me and very flexible. I like having the warmth feature, which is really cool. But also, having a limiter in there is very handy," he says. For vocal processing, Breen finds the Dynamics plug-in particularly useful, combining compression, limiting, and warmth to achieve a balanced and rich vocal sound. "You can have the compressor doing all the general leveling that you want it to do, and then you’ve got the limiter to take care of the really big peaks."
Taming Sibilance with SuprEsser
When it comes to managing sibilance in vocal tracks, Breen turns to the Oxford SuprEsser, calling it his favorite de-esser. "It’s wonderful for taking care of ‘S’s and the big, wide super mid-rangy consonants," he explains. The SuprEsser’s automatic level tracking feature is another highlight for Breen, setting it apart from other de-essers on the market.
Seamless Integration in DSP and Native Formats
Breen values the Sonnox plug-ins for their availability in both DSP and Native formats, allowing for a smooth transition between tracking and mixing. "I do a lot of stuff where I’m tracking, and I don’t want to have to change everything out when I get in here to mix. I can have the DSP plugs on stuff with no latency issues on an HDX rig and switch between tracking, mixing, and back again without having to change things," he says. This flexibility is crucial for Breen, particularly given the limited options for great sounding AAX DSP plug-ins.
Conclusion: Trust in Quality
For Rich Breen, Sonnox plug-ins are an essential part of his workflow, offering reliability, quality, and versatility that meet the demands of his diverse projects. "Honestly, there aren’t really many great sounding AAX DSP plug-ins out there, so I’m really glad to have the Sonnox plug-ins!" he concludes.